Helen (Shapiro) Birdsell

Sept. 20, 1925 - March 13, 2010
SOUTH BEND - Helen Shapiro Birdsell, 84, of South Bend, died March 13, 2010, in the Providence House. Mrs. Birdsell was born September 20, 1925, in South Bend, IN, to Morris L. and Bee Shapiro. They preceded her in death along with her daughter, Terry Gail Frazin.

She attended Studebaker School and graduated in 1943 from Riley High School.

Her 1946 marriage to Bernard Robert Frazin ended in divorce. She was married November 11, 1961, to Roger Birdsell, who survives. Other survivors include sons, James Alan Frazin of San Francisco and Lewis Ralph "Larry" Frazin of Los Angeles; sister, Eva Rae Lowey of Denver; grandsons, Justin Ezra (Melody) Frazin of Burr Oak, MI, and Ethan Frazin of Oakland, CA; great-granddaughters, Kelsey Ann and Katlyn Helen Frazin of Burr Oak; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Birdsell was employed as office manager and secretary/treasurer of the Mishawaka Paint & Wallpaper Store owned by her father from 1959 to 1970. Her community activities included the South Bend Chapter of Hadassah, Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, Presbyterian Players, South Bend Civic Theater and South Bend Press Club. She was a past treasurer of the South Bend Symphony League and the Riley Lunch Bunch. She enjoyed gardening, the care of indoor plants and indoor decorating, for which she had been trained in Chicago.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 2:00 PM in the McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, enter off Cherry Road. Friends may visit two hours prior. A short reception will then follow the service. The family requests no flowers, instead, please send memorial donations to the Providence House at Madison Center. To send condolences, please visit www.mcgannhay.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Mar. 16, 2010.

06/18/2023 EJS

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